Amanda Cook

About Amanda Cook

Dubbed “The ‘guitar queen’ with a silken touch” by The Independent, Amanda has appeared as a soloist and chamber musician in the USA, South America and throughout Europe.

In the UK she has performed at the South Bank, Wigmore Hall, St George’s Bristol, King’s Place and The Sage Gateshead.

She has been broadcast on television and radio, both abroad and in the UK, including BBC Radio 3 on “In Tune” and “Late Junction”: BBC Radio 4 on “Woman’s Hour,” and Classic FM. Amanda has given masterclasses at many international festivals including Belgium, Brazil, Italy, Peru, Spain, Switzerland and in the U.S.A.

A scholar at the Royal College of Music, Amanda studied with Charles Ramirez, Gary Ryan and Jakob Lindberg. Whilst there she won several prizes for her performances. Amanda then went on to study with Benjamin Verdery in New York with the help of the Countess of Munster Musical Trust.

Several composers have dedicated works to Amanda, including Nato Lima, Paul Gregory, Cristiano Porqueddu, William Lovelady and Peter Stewart.

Amanda has played in many successful ensembles including the Appassionata Guitar Trio who were chosen by IGF to release their debut album, new music group G Plus who released a CD for Peter Gabriel’s Real World label and more recently Amanda has joined the critically acclaimed Vida Guitar Quartet.

Amanda has recorded seven CD’s including 3 solo albums and 2 with the trio “Appassionata”. Her most recent release is a solo album: "Selected Guitar Works of William Lovelady." She has sat on the jury for several international competitions and regularly adjudicates music festivals in the UK. She is a patron of the Federation of Guitar Societies.